I thought I would start this off, as a general discussion, in case anyone wants to experiment with PM tactics, especially for use in KO2 (either computer or human opponents) rather than just PM itself.

I would sum up my tips as follows:

1) Start by designing tactic for when the ball is in BOX 6.
2) Space out your players to fill the pitch - try to cover all 12 squares (4 and 12 are the least important).
3) Don't cluster players togther (control switches confusingly between them). Often one player in space is a lot more effective.
4) Use the 'tails' option to show direction of player movement from box to box.
5) Tails should NEVER cross - i.e. two players running across each other's paths.
6) If any player has a tail more than ONE BOX long, he cannnot move there in time - don't expect players to run excessive distances. Your tactic just won't work if it's like this.
7) Above all, note the weaknesses in your tactic, and keep revising it.

One way to start is by basing your own tactic on your favourite built-in tactic - i.e. 4-2-4 where you might move the sweeper closer to your goal, advance the wingers a bit, and so on.

Incidentally, you will notice that the four default tactics often don't observe what I've said above. This is precisely what makes them weaker than tactics you design yourself!

Ie, I will try to keep the players in a third of the pitch (except when attacking when I always keep 5 or 6 deep!).

I also love to have my fullbacks overlap when the ball is in the wing quadrants, then I normally allow my winger to pick up the ball and hold it on the edge of the box as long as he can, the defender comes to him, the fullback overlaps takes the pass and gets a clean cross over (great against a human!)

Contrary to Mr Swift (who is more than likely right!) I prefer to have my two Strikers cross diagonally on the box, when a cross comes in the are therefore heading from far to near post (or away for a rebound) and thus attack the ball diagonally instead of straight on allowing them to get past (the human) defender and to the ball first.

M

No longer the only UK based Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Crewe supporter in the whole of the KOA!!!

Durban, that sounds interesting, I'd like to see it in action. My principle is 'never cross the streams':

Player A runs to Position x
Player B runs to Position y

If their trails cross, it means they are both travelling further than necessary. It would be more efficient for A to go to y, and B to go to x. Thereby each player travels a shorter distance. They get there quicker, therefore the tactic is more reliable.

Still, if you are using it a specific trick with strikers, this is interesting.

I wouldn't do that as I employ one striker behind the other. One is a 'feeder/lobber' and the other is a 'goalhanger'.

I normally design them with a theme in mind (ie wing play or solid Midfield etc)

If my tactic is say a 4-2-4 I will normally have the stikers level and I do cross as I prefer the strikers to run onto the ball rather than be there waiting (if you see what I mean).

I do however employ the link man that you do (one striker behind the other) on occasions but still have the strikers running diagonally (not crossing on this instance tho just heading for the relevant post, ie front stiker heads to near post whilst link striker arrives a bit later at far post for overhit crosses (or a pull back to the edge!)

I always have a man on the very far of the box (the corner nearerst the centre of the pitch not the corner by the touchline!) so that now and then instead of hitting a cross to the goal area I ping it to the back where he picks it up, normally the defence all run out at him and he casually lobs it over leaving a man in the middle to finish (or in my case put it wide!)

Also I always try to have (when the ball is in the corners or the wings) one of my midfielders go across to the wing with a full back and a winger to form a triangle formation, this can also be used in the centre with two mids and a link man, always gives you options (like in real footy as me old manager used to tell us!)

M

No longer the only UK based Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Crewe supporter in the whole of the KOA!!!

I designed a quick tactic last night, however once again I went back to the 'strikers crossing'

Now I would be dead if I was a ghostbuster of course, but my streams are crossing and I am probably more able to describe why now that I have revisited it from a fresh perspective.

If your strikers are aligned with the near and far post (for example) and are on the edge of the box you have two ways of attacking a cross.

Firstly, Robs concept, both players would run directly at the goal, probably in line with the near and far post.

Now this is good for battering the goal, its a case of winning headers and you can hit the target.

However if you cross the streams, so each striker runs from one post to the opposite post then this gives you the advantage of 'beating' the defender to the ball.
If you get this correct then your striker will still be within the goal and thus a straight header will hit the goal meaning the keeper has to make the save.
If you miss the first header then your second player will be at the back post, he will be arriving at a bad angle (running away from the direction of the ball) but this gives him the bonus of being alone at the far post (The keeper and defenders will be running towards the near post).

Thus you get two clean cut chances to finish. The First is the simpler of the two, if you get the direction spot on then your Striker will more often than not have a free header.

This type of tactic works best with 'proper' crosses (not the chipped floaty sort...ie BLC etc) as I am sure most people will know I prefer banging the cross in with speed, so for me the diagonal run works a lot better.
The issue on PM is that you need a good winger or two, otherwise their crossing is a bit hit and miss, but if you get a player with High shooting and put him on the wing his cross is more often than not perfect, it will be knocked in at pace and with a speedy striker you will find yourself arriving at the 6 yard box just in time to header (or fire home) before any of the defenders can reach you and normally the keeper is slow in getting there as well (whereas with a floaty cross everyone gets into position about half an hour before the ball arrives)

Hope this makes sense.

I still overlap the full backs down the wing, except I now run them into the box instead of towards the corner, this has been devastating in practice as the full back gets into the box and has a choice of shooting, passing or it seems quite a few defenders cannot take the overlap and stick out a leg...its awesome to watch an attack down the wings in full flow, although again you need to base your team around this tactic so your full backs need pace, passing and a little bit better than average shooting.

No longer the only UK based Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Crewe supporter in the whole of the KOA!!!

Robert Swift wrote:Garry, if you get a good one, please share. If possible give someone 'Southern' a disk with it on for me at the next event.

I'll gladly share anything I come up with but unfortunately I'm not able to put things on to amiga disk yet.

I'm not even sure how to use winuae to save a tactic from pm and then to load it into KO2CV - anyone post a few pointers for me, or is there a thread elsewhere ? (couldn't find one!). I've just about worked out how to create an action replay file - is it similar does anyone know?

Last edited by gdh82 on Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:07 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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